Walking should be one of the simplest, safest ways to get around. But in many parts of New York, pedestrians face constant risks from distracted drivers, chaotic intersections, and streets that often weren’t designed with foot traffic in mind.
When a driver fails to yield or a vehicle barrels through a crosswalk, the pedestrian pays the price—and the aftermath can be disastrous. If you’ve been hit while walking, you already know how quickly life can unravel, but a personal injury lawyer in Nassau County can help.
At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, we have 50 years of combined experience recovering $100 million in compensation. As your pedestrian accident lawyer in Nassau County, we’re here to work toward piecing things back together on your behalf.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Hit Harder Than Other Collisions
Car accidents that only involve vehicles are bad enough, but when a pedestrian is involved, the imbalance is staggering. A vehicle weighs thousands of pounds, while a human body weighs a fraction of that, with no protective barrier in between.
Nassau County pedestrian accident lawyers understand that these incidents almost always result in serious injuries:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Lasting psychological trauma
Victims often need emergency surgery, lengthy hospital stays, and months—if not years—of rehabilitation.
Unlike fender-benders, where people might walk away with whiplash, pedestrian accidents frequently derail every aspect of life: work, independence, relationships, and mental health. The sooner you call a pedestrian injury lawyer in Nassau County, the sooner attorneys can help you.
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Common Scenarios Our Nassau County Pedestrian Hit By Car Lawyer Sees
Knowing how these accidents typically happen can help victims recognize what went wrong in their own case. In Nassau County, pedestrian accidents often occur in these situations:
- Crosswalk crashes when drivers run red lights, speed through yellow signals, or fail to yield
- Turning vehicles operated by drivers who are focused on oncoming traffic but not looking for pedestrians in the crosswalk
- Parking lot accidents caused by cars backing out of spaces without checking behind them
- Bus stop zones involving pedestrians who are struck while boarding or exiting buses on busy roads
- Nighttime incidents related to poor lighting combined with distracted or impaired drivers.
Your pedestrian accident lawyer near me in Nassau County will understand that these aren’t rare occurrences—they’re everyday risks for anyone walking in Long Island communities.
What New York’s Right-Of-Way Laws Actually Say
New York law is clear about pedestrian rights. Under the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the following is expected:
- Pedestrians have the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
- Drivers must yield when turning into a crosswalk where pedestrians are crossing.
Even when pedestrians cross outside a crosswalk, drivers still have a duty to exercise due care to avoid hitting them.
For victims, this means that simply walking across the street when you’re supposed to isn’t “taking a risk.” The law protects that right. And when drivers fail to uphold their responsibility, liability often falls on their shoulders.
Handling Insurance-Related Matters After a Pedestrian Accident
New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that after most accidents, victims turn first to insurance for coverage regardless of fault. For pedestrians, this creates a couple of situation-specific realities:
- The driver’s insurance usually provides no-fault benefits, covering medical bills and lost wages up to a certain limit.
- Pedestrians may also use their own auto insurance for coverage, even though they weren’t driving.
When injuries are “serious” under New York law—meaning they involve permanent loss of function, disfigurement, or disability—victims can step outside the no-fault system and sue for full damages.
For many victims, no-fault benefits barely scratch the surface. Serious injuries almost always exceed those limits, leaving lawsuits as the only path to true compensation.
Comparative Negligence: When the Driver Isn’t the Only One at Fault
One question victims often worry about is: What if I wasn’t perfectly careful? Maybe you crossed mid-block or looked down at your phone. Does that mean you’re out of luck?
Not in New York. The state follows pure comparative negligence, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially responsible. If a jury decides you were 20% at fault and the driver was 80% at fault, your compensation is reduced by 20% but not eliminated.
Drivers’ insurance companies often argue that the pedestrian “should have been more careful.” To protect you, comparative negligence ensures that this tactic doesn’t erase your rights, though it does make strong evidence and documentation all the more important.
Why Timing is Everything After a Pedestrian Accident
The law doesn’t give victims unlimited time to act. In New York, the general statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is three years from the date of the accident.
If a government vehicle or agency is involved, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days and the lawsuit within one year and 90 days. Meanwhile, wrongful death cases have a two-year statute of limitations.
Three years may sound generous, but victims often underestimate how quickly it passes. Between medical recovery, insurance negotiations, and daily survival, that time can disappear fast. And while the legal deadline might be years away, evidence doesn’t wait around.
Call Our Nassau County Pedestrian Accident Law Firm ASAP to Better Understand Your Rights
Pedestrian accidents leave victims with more questions than answers. Why did this happen? How will I pay for treatment? How long do I have to take action? And the good news is that New York state laws are protective of pedestrian rights.
However, those rights are tied to strict rules, tight timelines, and an insurance system that doesn’t usually favor victims until they push back. Understanding the laws around right-of-way laws, insurance coverage, comparative negligence, and deadlines is more than just legal trivia.
It’s the foundation for reclaiming your life after a disastrous accident. That’s why working with pedestrian accident lawyers in Nassau County is so important. Call now to meet with a Nassau County pedestrian accident attorney who will guide you through every step of the process.